Car-coupling



NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMOS CLINTON MERRITT, OF ALLENTOIVN, EWT YORK.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,866, dated November 24,1891.

l Application led May 4, 1891. Serial No. 391,474. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, AMos CLINTON MEREITT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Allentown, in the county of Allegany and State of NewYork, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved coupling-link. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on a vertical plane, showing the link inserted ready for coupling into the mouth of the draw-head, the dotted lines showing the link as adjusted in its elevated position. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the link, and Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view on line y y in Fig. 3.

Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to car-couplings of that class employing a link and pin; and it consists in an improved construction of the link adapted to be used in connection with the coupling for which Letters Patent No. 429,539 were granted to me on the 3d day of June, 1890, and other couplings of the same type, the object of my present invention being to provide means for the ready and accurate adjustment of the link to its proper position for entering the draw-head with which it is to be coupled, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A desi gnates a d raw-head of any approved construction.

The coupling-pin is shown at B and my improved link at O. The latter consists of an' oblong link of the usual shape and construction, upon the two parallel sides of which is fastened about midway a cross bar or brace D. This fixed brace is bored through transversely, parallel to the sides of the link, to receive the outer screw-threaded end of a movable rod E, havinga nut F for lengthening or shortening the longer end of the rod which projects on the other side of the brace. Upon the other end of this rod is fastened a block G, having a concave recess H in that sidel which faces the coupling-pin B, and a coiled spring I is placed around this end of the rod, bearing with one end against block G and with the other end against the iixed brace D. Thus it will be seen that the tension of this spring operates to force the recessed block or bearing G up against the adjacent side ot' the pin which fits into the recess.

To maintain block G in its proper position, it is provided with pins .I J, inserted through it transversely, and the ends of which project on opposite sides, respectively, above and below the link, so as to form guides for the motion of the block forward or back. Vhen the pin is withdrawn from the link, the nut F at theouter end of rod E will prevent the rod and block from being pushed too far toward the rear end of the link by the tension of the spring, said nut being so adjusted that there will always be room enough between the concaved side of the block and the inner end of the link for the insertion of the pin B, to facilitate which the top and bottom of the block may be made slanting or beveled on the side facingthe pin, as shown at g in Fig. 2. Spring I should be made suificiently stiff and strong to cause the concaved side H of the block to bear against the pin with considerable pressure, thereby causing the free end of the link to project from the mouth of the draw-head horizontally, and as this concaved bearing-block G projects longer on one side of the link than on the other, (see Fg.'2,) the link may be raised, as indicated in dotted lines, or lowered to correspond to the elevation of the opposite draw-head by placing either one side or the other uppermost. Thus it will be seen that by simply reversing the link its elevation in the draw-head may be adjusted. In this manner I dispense entirely with the use of blocks, wedges, keys, or other contrivances for regulating the elevation of the free end of the link.

Having thus described my invention, Iv

IOO

provided with the fixed transvorsehracobored In testimony that I claim Jbhe foregoing as through parallel to Jche sides of the link, of my own I have hereunto affixed my Signature Io the coucaved block or bearing havinglateral in presence of two Witnesses. guides overla, )iniT the link screw-threaded 1 u 5 and nutted rolzl, and coiled spring encircling ANOS CLN ON MERRU l' Said rod between the fixed brace and movable W'itnesses: block, substantially as and for the purpose G. D. GIGEE, herein shown and described. G. ll. GIGEE. 

